University of California in denial over damage it did

The Associated Press

FILE - In this Nov. 19, 2014 file photo, University of California President Janet Napolitano listens to student speakers during a meeting of the university Board of Regents in San Francisco. California's auditor said Tuesday, March 29, 2016, the University of California has undermined residents by admitting a growing number of nonresident students, some of whom were not as qualified as in-state students. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File)

FILE - In this Nov. 19, 2014 file photo, University of California President Janet Napolitano listens to student speakers during a meeting of the university Board of Regents in San Francisco. California's auditor said Tuesday, March 29, 2016, the University of California has undermined residents by admitting a growing number of nonresident students, some of whom were not as qualified as in-state students. (AP Photo/Eric Risberg, File) (The Associated Press)

The San Diego Union-Tribune Editorial Board

In March, state Auditor Elaine Howle released one of the harshest audits of a major state institution in decades.

The report documented how instead of engaging in the belt-tightening done by other government bodies during California’s years of revenue shortfalls, the University of California instead continued to provide generous raises while changing its admissions policies to admit far more out-of-state students who pay far higher tuition than in-state students. The audit said the 432 percent increase in such students over the past decade was made possible by UC decisions to lower admission standards for out-of-state applicants while denying admission to nearly 4,300 qualified California students.

UC President Janet Napolitano blasted the report as “neither accurate nor helpful” and said UC deserved praise for how it responded to the state’s years of lean budgets. But her criticism didn’t lay a glove on the audit’s key findings.

Now UC officials have released information showing a major increase in admissions offers for the fall term to state residents, in particular to African-Americans and Latinos. In a statement, Napolitano linked the changes to increased funding by the Legislature.

This is not a particularly subtle attempt to once again deflect criticism over questionable decisions that UC officials made that directly hurt nearly 4,300 young Californians. The people of this state deserve contrition from top UC officials, not denial, spin and gamesmanship.